Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce to host Congressman Brian Babin and Randy Weber. Come say hello!

June 27, 2022

What a great opportunity to actually see what Congressman Brian Babin and Randy Weber look like! After a year in seclusion Babin and Weber will be speaking at the monthly meeting of the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce at 11:00 PM Wednesday, June 29 at the Clear Lake Hilton.

Tickets are no longer available but anyone can welcome Babin and Weber and thank them for their continued devotion to the NRA, guns, and the right to carry loaded assault weapons in public!

Much like a Texas cicada, Babin and Weber will emerge for a short time, make a lot of noise, then craw back in the hole they came from. Most probably other NRA elected officials will be there like Money Mayes Middleton, Little Baby Briscoe Cain, and Dennis the NRA Bitch Paul.

Come on out!!!

Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce 

11:00 PM Wednesday, June 29 

Clear Lake Hilton.


Final campaign finance report: CCISD candidate Scott Bowen

June 27, 2022

Scott Bowen spent a boat load of money on his re-election campaign for CCISD school board. Even with his expenditures and the support from the Republican Party, he failed to get 50% of the vote.

In his last campaign finance report Bowen spent over $14,762 on advertising with The Yates Company, an advertising firm that caters to the right wing of the Republican Party. His entire expenditures for his campaign was over $20,000 not including the mailer sent by the Harris county Republican Party. 

He still has an outstanding loan of $20,000 on his books. He received a contribution of $1000 from Jeff Yates (affiliated with The Yates Company?) and $1000 from his mother. 

Campaigns for school boards usually require a few thousand dollars. Bowen spent over $20,000, 5 times more than any other candidate and yet he couldn’t get more than 50% of the entire vote. Luckily with his buddy’s loss, Misty Dawson, failed to give Bowen a leadership position on the board.

I look forward to finding out how much the Harris county Republican Party contributed to this race.


Hooray! Gun violence is over! A FAQ on the gun safety bill of 2022.

June 27, 2022

Let’s give credit where credit is due. The gun safety bill of 2022 does something. It gives the NRA bitches of the Republican Party an opportunity to look as if they did something. They didn’t. Here is a simple to understand FAQ on what you and your family can expect from the new gun bill:

  • Can 18 year olds still buy an assault weapon? Yes.
  • Can 18 year olds still buy high capacity ammunition clips, body armor, and gun silencers? Yes.
  • Does the bill create Red Flag laws? No. It only provides funds to states that implement Red Flag laws. Will Texas create a Red Flag law? No. Aint going to happen.
  • Does the bill ban high capacity ammunition clips, armor piercing bullets, body armor, or military style assault weapons? No.
  • Does the bill provide funding for safer schools. Yes.
  • Will the bill provide protection for those who worship in churches? No.
  • Will the bill provide protection for those who attend concerts? No.
  • Will the bill provide protection for those who shop at Walmart? No.
  • Will the bill provide protection for those who dance at night clubs? No.
  • Will the bill provide protection for those who work at a job? No.
  • Will the bill end the open carry of loaded assault rifles in public? No.
  • Is this bill the start of other bills that will address the gun violence in our country that has killed children at school? LOL. You are kidding, right?
It’s something but it doesn’t address the problem of unlimited access to guns. There will be another mass shooting. Might not be today or tomorrow but it will happen. It may not happen to you or your family, or your friends, or your community, but it will happen because this bill does not address the real problem.
As I have said before, if you thought the slaughter of 19 children would change the minds of the NRA bitches of the Republican Party, you have forgotten the 20 kids in Sandy Hook.


Friendswood attacks a decorated Marine as part of their 4th of July celebration

June 24, 2022

What did you expect from a city that voted overwhelmingly for Donald trump?

Friendswood has a great 4th of July parade every year and each year they pick a Grand Marshal. This year that honor went to Haley Carter a decorated Marine Veteran, a Navy Academy graduate, former goalie for the Houston Dash, Lifetime Girl Scout, and according to the City of Friendswood:

Her personal military decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (w/ Gold Star in Lieu of Second Award).

And yet just days after receiving this honor she has voluntarily stepped down due to threats to her family and herself. Yep. This is Friendswood. Turns out Haley is also the Chair of the City of Houston Commission Against Gun Violence.

The City will not replace Haley and they shouldn’t. The trash of Friendswood doesn’t deserve Haley or a parade celebrating our freedom after this display of stupidity. This year’s event theme is “Freedom for One & All”. Maybe the City should cancel the parade until the citizens learn what Freedom for One and All really means.

According to the Houston Press this all started with someone named Jesse Kelly:

It all started with Jesse Kelly, a former Marine, failed Arizona congressional candidate, and radio host on 950 KPRC. He is also, in no particular order, a school shooting skeptican anti-vaxxer, thinks trans people are “filth,” and has gleefully (if tacitly) encouraged violence against the left manymany times. He has built a career on being as reactionary right wing as possible.

These threats will continue until someone gets their ass sued. Maybe Haley will do it.


This simple tweet pretty much sums up the "gun" bill

June 23, 2022

As I have said in the past, if you thought the republicans would finally do something about gun safety in this country after the death of 19 little Mexican kids in Uvalde, then you forgot about what they did after 20 little white kids died in Sandy Hook.


Final campaign finance report: CCISD candidate Misty Dawson

June 22, 2022

Some CCISD candidates have filed post election financial reports. I believe there will might be another set filed for some candidates after July 15th as well as for the Harris County Republican Party which spent a considerable amount of money in their support of Scott Bowen and possibly Misty Dawson.

According to her report filed with CCISD Misty Dawson spent over $26,000 but $20,000 was simply to repay a loan she took from her pool company the month prior. She never spent the $20,000. Maybe she just wanted to pad her campaign account to make it look like she was supported by the community.

Over $6000 was spent on advertising with The Yates Company a group used by republicans including Scott Bowen. In total she spent about $8000 for the entire campaign. She has $0 Cash on Hand. This should end her failed attempt at gaining a seat on the CCISD board, a position she was clearly unqualified for based upon her performances in various forums.

What is frightening is that she lost by less than 50 votes.


WHAT THE F*CK? Greg Abbott poses with indicted Proud Boys leader

June 12, 2022

What the living f*ck is happening in Texas?

First we have a Republican candidate for the Texas Senate, Bianca Gracia, meeting with the Proud Boys leader, Enrique Tarrios and Elmer Stewart Rhodes the leader of the Oathkeepers a day before the Jan 6 insurrection. Both have been indicted for seditious conspiracy which if convicted would put them in jail for 20 years.

Now the “conservative” Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has been photographed with Joe Biggs, a leading figure in the Proud Boys organization. Biggs has also been indicted for seditious conspiracy and could face 20 years in prison. Seditious Conspiracy is defined as:

If two or more persons in any State or Territory, or in any place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, they shall each be fined or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.

It doesn’t matter if he took the pic prior to the indictment. The bottom line is he took a pic with Joe Biggs an extreme white wing nut. What the living f*ck was he thinking and what does this have to do with Hunter Biden? Abbott is more crippled than we ever thought.


Senate District 11 Candidate for Senator, Bianca Gracia, filmed with Proud Boys prior to Jan 6

June 10, 2022

What the living F***?

Bianca Gracia was a candidate for Texas Senate District 11 here in the Bay Area. She lost to State Representative “Money” Mayes Middleton in a four way race. She won only 7% of the vote in the Republican primary. Bianca was also the the founder of Latinos for Trump which is like Chickens for Colonel Sanders.

A day prior to the Jan 6 insurrection Gracia was filmed with Enrique Tarrio a leader of the Proud Boys and founder of the Oath Keepers Elmer Stewart Rhodes in a garage. Tarrio and Rhodes have both been charged with seditious conspiracy for their participation in the Jan 6 riot. They face 20 years in jail.

Gracia has not been charged but it has to be troubling that she was meeting with Tarrio and Rhodes. We will see if anything comes of this. The Washington Post has the video at https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/05/24/tarrio-rhodes-video/


What idiot allowed carrying loaded assault weapons in the public?

June 9, 2022

Senator Charles “Dick Pic” Schwertner from Georgetown.

Texas Senator Charles Schwertner was involved in a dick pic scandal at the University of Texas. According to Fox News (yes, Fox even covered it)

Schwertner allegedly texted the student, “I just really want to f— you,”  and sent her a photo of what appeared to be his genitals in the shower. The image does not show his face, officials said, and the student never responded to the message.

According to the Houston Chronicle it seems that someone else had access to Schwertner’s cell phone and encryption app as well as a pic of Schwertner’s dick. That anonymous person sent the dick pic. How they obtained a pic of Schwertner’s dick while he was in the shower is still unknown. But I digress…..

Schwertner sponsored the permit less carry bill allowing anyone to walk in public, free of harassment from law enforcement, with loaded assault weapons which includes wannabe GI Joes in full body armor, cartel members, and drug dealers. My State Representative Dennis Paul co-sponsored the bill.

What kind of idiot thinks this is safe? If you saw someone dressed like a cartel member walking down your street you can call the police but they cannot do anything. They can’t ask if they are licensed to carry, because they do not have to have a license to carry. They can’t ask if they are felons or otherwise not allowed to carry that weapon. They only time they can take action is when it is too late.

BTW. Schweriners wife filed for divorce.


We visited State Representative Dennis Paul at his home to discuss gun safety

June 6, 2022

Don’t get your hopes up. Paul got wind of our event and left the house but not before calling HPD and the Harris County Constables which were very professional, offered an escort if needed, and provided information to keep our event safe and legal.

About 25 of us went to Paul’s house in House District 129 to encourage him to DO SOMETHING. In a letter we left we said:

We are calling on you to DO SOMETHING to curb gun violence in our state. The time for thoughts and prayers is over. It is time for significant legislative action. We urge you to encourage Governor Abbott to call a special session to address gun violence immediately and in time for opening of our schools for the upcoming school year.


Paul is what is called an NRA bitch. He would walk around the voting locations wearing his stupid looking NRA hat as if it would get him more votes. His votes for every gun nut bill has put our kids, parents, teachers, and law enforcement at risk.


You have co-sponsored many of the gun bills during the 2021 session including open carry, permitless carry, and permitting the ownership of silencers with no support from law enforcement. You not only have put our children, and the public at risk, you have also made it more dangerous for our police to do their already dangerous jobs. You have put their everyones lives in danger and this must come to an end.


Enough is enough. Thanks to KHOU for reporting on this event. You can see the entire segment here. We are in the 2nd half of the coverage. We left pictures of the kids and teachers killed in Uvalde for him to remember what he is partially responsible for.

 

Irma Garcia, 4th grade teacher age 48

Eva Mireles, 4th grade teacher age 44

 

Makenna Lee Elrod, student age 10

Layla Salazar, student age 11

Maranda Mathis, student age 11

Nevaeh Bravo, student age 10

Jose Manuel Flores Jr., age 10

Xavier Lopez, student age 10

Tess Marie Mata, student age 10

Rojelio Torres, student age 10

“Ellie” Amyah Garcia, student age 9

Eliahna A. Torres, student age 10

Annabell Guadalupe Rodriguez, student age 10

Jackie Cazares, student age 9

Uziyah Garcia student age10

Jayce Carmelo Luevanos, student age 10

Maite Yuleana Rodriguez, student age 10

Jailah Nicole Silguero, student age 10

Amerie Jo Garza, student age 10

Alexandria “Lexi” Aniyah Rubio, student age 10

Alithia Ramirez, student age 10

 


Why the the hell would anyone move to Texas?

June 2, 2022

Maybe companies need to rethink moving to Texas. Maybe employees should do the same.

Greg Abbott makes a big deal about enticing companies, especially from California, to move their headquarters to Texas claiming it’s a great place for business. That may be true but someone is paying for it and that someone is you.

Texas claims to be the “Energy Capitol of the World” yet todays electricity prices have skyrocketed since the freeze of 2021. As of today in the Houston area the least amount per kWh is 14.7 cents and that requires a 5 year contract! Our electricity grid is still fragile and gasoline prices are over $4.00 while profits have soared for the oil industry.

While business taxes are low property taxes have skyrocketed. The cost of housing and rent is creeping towards California rates. Homeowners and wind storm insurance is also through the roof. The cost of college tuition has skyrocketed ever since 2003 when the legislature “deregulated” tuition fees. 

Our public schools are underfunded. Our teachers are underpaid. Our police are under fire with the proliferation of assault weapons on the street. Our lax gun allows anyone to walk the streets with a loaded assault weapon without training or licensing. We are the gun capitol of the world with reoccurring mass shootings taking the lives of our students, shoppers, and worshipers.

Couple all of that with mosquitos the size of hummingbirds and hot and humid summers and Texas has become a really fucked up place to make money. It didn’t used to be this way.

#AnyPlaceButTexas


A plan to get assault weapons off the street

May 31, 2022

There has to be a change in the way we think about guns. They are not toys. We, especially elected officials, shouldn’t play with them or cook bacon on the barrel. We shouldn’t be posing with them or taking selfies with them. And we need assault weapons off the street. NOW.

We should allow people to buy assault weapons and automatic weapons and have them transferred to a gun range for safe storage. The owner is free to shoot it there, store it there, store their ammo there but they will never be allowed to leave with the gun or bring it home. If they want to move, then transfer it to another gun range. These guns should never be in the public again.

For those with these weapons already we should have a buy back program, paid for by they gun industry. Those who want to give up their assault weapons can then buy a gun that is better for home security. Those who want to keep their assault weapons will have a time period to arrange and pay for storage at a gun range. And those who are caught with an illegal weapon or illegal ammo after this timeframe will face a mandatory 3 years in prison.

There is no other usage for an assault weapon besides shooting them for fun or killing people. It is useless for hunting. It is a very poor choice for home protection. So let them shoot. Let them own. 

But keep them off the ***damn street.


The math doesn't add up for republican school safety proposals

May 30, 2022

I said it after the Sante Fe murders. The math just doesn’t add up. Lt Governor Dan Patrick suggested metal detectors for schools.

Get your slide rules out and lets do the math. Lets assume each school will need at least 1 metal detector. There are over 9300 public schools and 1200 charter schools in Texas. Each metal detector costs $4000 (not including the training, periodic calibration, and maintenance). So..

1x10500x$4000= $42,000,000 for just 1 detector per school. Assuming we average a total of 3 per school and you have a $126 Million price tag which does not include the cost of training, periodic calibration, maintenance, technical support, onsite personnel. $126 Million.

Now there are 27,848 churches in Texas that would require this brain fart of an idea to keep us safe from gun violence. There are over 600 shopping malls in Texas. So do the math then realize that this is not the answer for gun safety. As I said:

How will metal detectors in Sante Fe protect our families from a gun nut at a concert? At a church? At a night club? At a movie theatre? On the streets? Only a moron would think this is a good idea. This is nothing but a Dan Patrick gimmick as he heads into an election season with teachers lining up against him. Patrick needs to go back to school and learn some math. 

Dumbass Dan Patrick.


NASA's Luna Rendezvous Festival cancels gun auction

May 26, 2022

If anyone wanted to win the type of rifle used to kill a bunch of kids in Uvalde you will have to find another raffle/auction. According to Michelle Holland the Advisory Board Chairman of the Lunar Rendezvous Festival the auction is off.

It’s as if gun ownership is a game to some.


In other news: CCISD Board Member fails vote for leadership. 3 times.

May 26, 2022

While we are waiting for the Republican Party to find their moral compass, here is an update from the last CCISD meeting.

Scott Bowen spent somewhere along the lines of $50,000 to get re-elected. Even after spending $50,000 he couldn’t break 50% of the vote (48%). More than 50% of the voters in this election wanted someone else besides Bowen to be on the CCISD School Board.

It also spread to the board itself. Bowen was nominated for President of the Board and failed. He was nominated for VP and failed. He was nominated for Secretary and failed. Usually you are not nominated unless you know you have the votes to win. Someone forgot to give Bowen that memo.

Thanks to the Board Members for keeping Bowen in the shadows where he belongs. Bowen was only 41 votes shy of being the President. If Misty Dawson had been elected she would have been the deciding vote. Dawson has to be one of the worst, if not the worst, candidate ever to run for the board.


Who is next to be shot?

May 26, 2022

I wrote this letter to the editor just a few days before the Uvalde shooting:

So far in the last 10 years they have shot and killed:

10 Blacks in New York
25 Hispanics in El Paso
49 Gays in Florida
60 Whites in Las Vegas
26 Christians in Sutherland Springs Church
11 Jews in Pittsburgh
14 Soldiers in Fort Hood
32 College students in Virginia Tech
17 Students in Stonemason Douglas High School
10 Students in Sante Fe
20 5 year olds in Sandy Hook


And 19 children in Ulvalde Texas.

And Republicans continue to block all proposed actions to curb the violence. So, who is next on their list? You?


How to curb gun violence that NRA cowards will never agree to

May 25, 2022

So while the NRA bitches meet in Houston this Friday to devise ways to pass laws to further erode our rights to living in peace here are some common sense ideas to curb this stupidity.

1. End open carry. We need to return to “if you are armed, you are dangerous”. No one needs to walk around with a gun strapped to their hip. No one needs to carry a loaded assault weapon in the open and if they do they should be considered dangerous and dealt with accordingly.

2. Return to true conservative values and treat your guns like your dick. Don’t talk about it. Don’t play with it. Don’t compare it to others. Don’t walk around holding it in public.

3. Control assault weapons. If you want an assault style weapon then store it at a gun range not at home. Want to move? Have it shipped to your new gun range. If you want a fully automatic machine gun, then buy it and have it shipped to a gun range. These weapons should NEVER be in the public.

4. End Permitless carry. If you want to conceal carry, take a class, apply for a license. Do it responsibly.

5. Lead. Our elected officials need to lead and tell people that violence is not the first resort to solving problems. Stop glorifying gun ownership. Owning a gun is not a fuckin game. Guns are dangerous. Stop shooting guns in you campaign ads. That is not responsible. That is just plain stupid. Start being a leader and start acting like one.


Texas State Representative Dennis Paul digs deep to offer help to the Uvalde shooting victims

May 25, 2022

It’s been only 10 days since Paul offered his thoughts and prayers for the shooting victims in Buffalo.

State Representative Dennis Paul will be attending church today in preparing to offer support to the victim’s families of the Uvalde shooting.

Texas State Representative Dennis Paul has provided thoughts and prayers to the victims in the Sutherland Church shooting, the El Paso shooting, and the Fort Hood shooting. He proudly stood with other Texas officials at Santa Fe High school offering an endless supply of his own thoughts and prayers to the 8 kids killed. A total of 73 Texans lost their lives in these Texas shootings. These shootings drained Paul’s supply of thoughts and prayers but he stood strong with the support of his church, St Bernadette’s unlimited supply of thoughts and prayers.

Paul reached deep into his thoughts and prayers basket from his church for the 20 grade school kids shot and killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. He went even deeper to provide thoughts and prayers to those killed in the Las Vegas shooting and the Orlando Nightclub shooting, and the high school kids at Stoneman Douglas High School.

And now on Sunday Dennis Paul will be attending mass and once again digging deep into the thoughts and prayers basket to offer to the families of the victims in the Uvalde shooting. 19 American children and 2 adults were killed by an 18 year old with an assault weapon. Paul will be rushing his thoughts and prayers to the families right before attending the NRA convention in Houston.

BTW: Fuck you Dennis.


There ought to be a law against fake/false endorsements

May 24, 2022

I’ve had a boner on this issue for sometime.

Over the last few elections a number of organizations and candidates have published “voting guides” or endorsement cards for various candidates. The guides such as the one issued by Fort Bend United looks official, expensive, and as if it came from Harris County. (it didn’t) And then there is the epic mailer that was sent to over 100,000 voters by Eric Dick running for Houston City Council. I’ve beat that dead horse long enough. You can read about the outcome here:

So after a couple of years of investigation and a preliminary and formal hearing, Dick was fined $30,000 and was referred to the State Bar. (Dick is an attorney) This fine was the 2nd highest fine accessed by the Commission, second to the fine of $75,000 against Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole.

Dick’s mailer looked as if prominent Black elected officials had endorsed a slate including him. They hadn’t. None of them had. This wasn’t the first time for Dick. During his previous run for City Council he took pictures of himself with elected officials and sent a card that implied they had endorsed him. (They didn’t)

So, what can be done? We need a “Don’t be a Dick” bill. A bill that would make it illegal to imply, suggest, or otherwise make one believe that an individual has endorsed someone without their expressed consent to do so. Currently there is a law in place that makes it a crime to alter a video in an attempt to deceive voters.

This is needed for these fake and/or misleading endorsements. Until then, don’t be a dick.


The Texas Ethics Commission issues final order on Harris County Dept of Education Trustee, Eric Dick

May 20, 2022

“It’s like a nightmare isn’t it? It just keeps getting worse and worse. Doesn’t it?” –The Color of Money

The Final Order from the Texas Ethics Commission can be found here.

After the 2019 Houston City Council elections I filed an ethics complaint against City Council candidate Eric Dick. My complaint was fairly simple. He failed to put a “Political ad paid for by….” disclaimer on a mail piece he sent out and he failed to identify who he was paying money to. Usually a complaint like this will end in a settlement with a small fine and with no admission of guilt along with a promise to not do it again. According to the final order issued by the Texas Ethics Commission I couldn’t have been more wrong….

The mailer in question looked as if prominent Black elected officials had endorsed a slate of candidates, including Dick. It was created by the Harris County Black Democratic News an organization that was also caught up in this scheme and eventually fined $6000. Unfortunately it is not against the law to publish a deceiving endorsement so that issue was not considered by the Ethics Commission.

The Final Order:

So after a couple of years of investigation and a preliminary and formal hearing, Dick was fined $30,000 and was referred to the State Bar. (Dick is an attorney) This fine was the 2nd highest fine accessed by the Commission, second to the fine of $75,000 against Harris County Commissioner Jerry Eversole. The Final Order sheds more light on the entire process and went far beyond what I had expected. From the order:

  • The TEC offered to settle for $10,000. Dick offered to settle the complaint for $2500 with no admission of guilt. The TEC countered with a fine of $5000. A day later the printer of the mailer responded to a subpoena with data that made the TEC staff rescind the offer. Dick should have accepted the offer.
  • Dick had claimed, under oath, that he had nothing to do with the mailer, yet the data provided by the printer showed that he paid over $20,000 for over 100,000 mailers and was directing the printer on every aspect of the job.
  • The TEC sent a list of questions to Dick. His lawyer, Chris Carmona, offered to provide the answers at a cost of $900.
  • Dick finally responded to the request and provided a document dump of over 11,000 pages. 
  • After claiming his reports were accurate concerning payments of over $125,000 to PFS, the Famous Group, WS Services, and Blaze Campaign Consulting he changed his statement saying he had actually never paid anyone for any services. The original complaint claimed these entities did not exist and the addresses listed on the ethics report were storage facilities. The TEC agreed.
  • Subpoenas were issued to the printer owner, Dick, and the owner of Harris County Democratic News. Neither showed to the hearing.
  • Carmona claimed that Dick was under a “protective order” issued by Harris County Civil Court at Law No 1 and could not attend the formal hearing but that order had been withdrawn once the Judge learned Dick was under a subpoena. (Can this get any more weird?)
  • The data provided by the printer clearly shows Dick paid for the mailers, which he denied.
I seriously thought this was going to end like most complaints I have filed, a slap on the wrist, a small fine, and an agreement to not do it again. Thanks to the efforts by the Texas Ethics Commission staff this resulted in a serious fine as well as a referral to the State Bar for disciplinary action. 
I get the feeling this nightmare isn’t over.


Bay Area Houston

Hard hitting political commentary always full of wit in Houston Texas.

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